The View
Martin Mansergh
Pope Francis’ approval of the Italian bishops’ decision to render more precise the passage in the Lord’s Prayer in Italian that is the equivalent of, but perhaps not precisely the same as ‘lead us not into temptation’ was news here, in the sense that it came as a surprise to most people but was of considerable interest. In Italian, ‘non ci indurre in tentazione’ will become ‘non abbandonarci alla tentazione’ (do not abandon us to temptation).
Whether there will be parallel modification of the English text, potentially across many countries and ecclesiastical jurisdictions, has yet to be appropriately determined. One factor is that the Lord’s Prayer is common to practically every Christian denomination. This is not to say that its rendering is absolutely identical. In the Catholic Church, it ends with ‘deliver us from evil’. In the Anglican prayer book, it continues with ‘for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever’, and there are also versions in modern language not necessarily preferred by the older worshipper, including this one.
It could be argued that the meaning of the Italian word ‘indurre’, which is not just ‘lead’ but ‘induce’, is subtly different, implying perhaps that God is trying to inveigle humans, perhaps as a test, into temptation, usually seen as Satan’s role.
Literal meaning
Despite the literal meaning of the words in English, it had never occurred to me that we are saying in effect that God is in the habit of tempting us and we are pleading with him not to. Any reasonable interpretation of ‘Lead us not into temptation’ is that it is a prayer asking for help in avoiding us being placed in situations of temptation, and that ‘lead’ in that context is closer in meaning to ‘let’.
It would not be surprising, if the English version is left unchanged. While there may be lots of scope for liturgical innovation, changes to core liturgy need to be very carefully considered indeed.
It has to be said that the God of the Old Testament, whose thought-processes are sometimes explained in considerable detail, and even in direct speech, may occasionally perplex later Christians. Earlier this month, I was listening to a lesson being read from Genesis 11, the story of the Tower of Babel as the origin of the diversity of tongues. It begins with what some might think was a positive: ‘And the whole earth was of one language and one speech.’
Legislatively, Ireland should not go down the libertarian route”
The people decided to build a tower that would reach unto Heaven. The Lord decided this was going too far, that the people were one, and nothing could stop them, so decided ‘to go down and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech’, at which point they dispersed in every direction. It is probably best to treat it as a colourful Bible story not requiring too close analysis, part of the creation myth.
Discipline and self-control are central to civilization, and are part of the religious ethos. They are perfectly compatible with energy, enthusiasm and creativity. A top-class or even a competent performer in any field has to be disciplined.
Public figures are expected to set an example. This can sometimes work inversely. The dangers of cocaine use both to health and career have been highlighted recently in the Tory leadership contest. The problem today is that many people have tried hard drugs for a period, they believe without much ill effect or falling into addiction, ignoring that the devastating collateral effects are mostly borne by others, with the bulk of crime today being drug-related.
Legislatively, Ireland should not go down the libertarian route. The scourge of drug use is one of the biggest evils to have emerged in my lifetime. Curiously, there are strong public health and safety campaigns against the abuse of alcohol and the dangers of smoking and even sugary soft drinks, whereas warnings against (illegal) drug use are incredibly muted, perhaps for fear of glamorising it.
The argument against continued criminalisation that it is not effective could be applied to practically any crime.
Would it be sensible to decriminalise knife attacks, on the grounds that police forces have not got on top of that problem?
***
The President of Colombia Iván Duque has attacked the hypocrisy of middle-class cocaine users, who ignore the environmental damage caused by cocaine production, claiming that for every gram produced two hectares of tropical forest is destroyed.
Another area where public figures have set a ridiculous example is in the pursuit of personal injury claims. The primary responsibility for avoiding gratuitous hazards lies with the individual, or, if a minor or a dependent, with those that look after them.
Prohibitive insurance costs can have serious anti-social effects, in precluding certain forms of recreation and community activity. It is to be hoped that recent reactions will introduce a reality check.
Social media
While traditional print and broadcast media are subject to tight laws, on social media practically anything goes, especially under the cloak of anonymity, sometimes with extremely hurtful effects and occasionally driving people to suicide. While overall the social benefits of the digital world greatly outweigh the costs, effective policing and regulation as well as more accountability for what is posted needs greater development.
If totalitarian societies can police the internet quite wrongly for political censorship purposes, then surely democratic societies can do it for the right purposes, in keeping with their norms of openness.
Why should extreme pornography, incitements to terrorism, and medical obscurantism which costs lives on matters such as vaccination be tolerated?
Christian values are eminently compatible with great care for the environment and the natural world. ‘All things bright and beautiful…the Lord God made them all’ is a famous children’s hymn by Ms Alexander, a Derry bishop’s wife. Yet advertising for the most fuel-consuming cars and frequent fancy holiday flights continues unabated.
It is much easier to subscribe to noble aspirations in the middle distance than to start painful sacrifices rightaway.